The Members convened were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackBoisvenuCampbellCarignanChaputCoolsCordyCowanDagenaisDawsonDayDemersDowneDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFureyGreeneHousakosHubleyJohnsonKennyLangLovelace NicholasMacDonaldManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyreMerchantMeredithMitchellMooreMunsonNancy RuthNgoOgilvieOhPattersonPlettPoirierRaineRivardRuncimanSeidmanSibbestonSmith (Saurel)Stewart OlsenTardifTkachukUngerWallaceWallinWattWellsWhite

The Members in attendance to business were:

The Honourable Senators

AndreychukAtaullahjanBakerBattersBellemareBeyakBlackBoisvenuCampbellCarignanChaputCoolsCordyCowanDagenaisDawsonDayDemersDowneDyckEatonEggletonEnvergaFraserFureyGreeneHousakosHubleyJohnsonKennyLangLovelace NicholasMacDonald*MaltaisManningMarshallMartinMassicotteMcCoyMcInnisMcIntyre*MercerMerchantMeredithMitchellMooreMunsonNancy RuthNgoOgilvieOhPattersonPlettPoirierRaineRivardRuncimanSeidmanSibbestonSmith (Saurel)Stewart OlsenTardifTkachukUngerWallaceWallinWattWellsWhite

The first list records senators present in the Senate Chamber during the course of the sitting.

An asterisk in the second list indicates a senator who, while not present during the sitting, was in attendance to business, as defined in subsections 8(2) and (3) of the Senators Attendance Policy.

PRAYERS

Senators’ Statements

Some Honourable Senators made statements.

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS

Presenting or Tabling Reports from Committees

The Honourable Senator Housakos, Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, presented the third report of the committee (Senate budget for 2016-2017).

(The report is printed as an appendix at pages 209-214 (available in print format PDF).)

(The HTML version of the report is available on the committee website.)

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lang, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration at the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Ogilvie, Joint Chair of the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying, informed the Senate that, pursuant to the orders adopted by the Senate on December 11, 2015, and February 17, 2016, the committee deposited with the Clerk of the Senate on February 25, 2016, its first report entitled: Medical Assistance in Dying: A Patient-Centred Approach.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-187S.

The Honourable Senator Ogilvie moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Stewart Olsen, that the report be placed on the Orders of the Day for consideration two days hence.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Orders of the Day

Government Business

Motions

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Jaffer, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cordy:

That the following Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General of Canada:

To His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:

We, Her Majesty’s most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Senate of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Greene, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Other Business

Senate Public Bills – Second Reading

Orders No. 1 to 17 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Reports of Committees – Other

Consideration of the second report of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration (Committee budget—legislation), presented in the Senate on February 18, 2016.

The Honourable Senator Housakos moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Greene, that the report be adopted.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Motions

Orders No. 43, 7, 31, 25, 6 and 9 were called and postponed until the next sitting.

Inquiries

Order No. 1 was called and postponed until the next sitting.

MOTIONS

The Honourable Senator Eggleton, P.C., moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Dawson:

That the Senate encourage the federal government, after appropriate consultations, to sponsor along with one or more of the provinces/territories a pilot project, and any complementary studies, to evaluate the cost and impact of implementing a national basic income program based on a negative income tax for the purpose of helping Canadians to escape poverty.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Bellemare moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator White, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Fraser moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Cowan:

That the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament be authorized to examine and report upon the expenditures set out in Library of Parliament Vote 1 of the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, if and when that committee has organized; and

That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that House accordingly.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

o o o

The Honourable Senator Wallace moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Demers:

That, in order to provide for a representative of independent, non-partisan senators to be elected to the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators;

1. The Rules of the Senate be amended by replacing rule 12-27(1) by the following:

“Appointment of Committee

12-27. (1) As soon as practicable at the beginning of each session, the Leader of the recognized party with the largest number of Senators shall move a motion, seconded by the Leader of the recognized party with the second largest number of Senators, on the membership of the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators. This motion shall be deemed adopted without debate or vote, and a similar motion shall be moved for any substitutions in the membership of the Committee.”; and

2. The Ethics and Conflict of Interest Code for Senators be amended by replacing subsections 35(4) to (6) by the following:

“Election of members

(4) Two of the Committee members shall be elected by secret ballot in the caucus of the recognized party with the largest number of Senators at the opening of the session; two of the Committee members shall be elected by secret ballot in the caucus of the recognized party with the second largest number of Senators at the opening of the session; the fifth member shall be elected by secret ballot by the majority of the Senators who are authorized to attend sittings of the Senate and who do not belong to the caucus of the recognized party with either the largest or second largest number of Senators at an in camera meeting called by the Clerk of the Senate at the opening of the session.

Presentation and adoption of motion

(5) The Leader of the recognized party with the largest number of Senators, seconded by the Leader of the recognized party with the second largest number of Senators, shall present a motion on the full membership of the Committee to the Senate, which motion shall be deemed adopted without any debate or vote.

Chair

(6) The Chair of the Committee shall be elected by its five members.”.

After debate,

The Honourable Senator Demers moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Lovelace Nicholas, that further debate on the motion be adjourned until the next sitting.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

---

With leave,

The Senate reverted to Notices of Motions.

With leave of the Senate,

The Honourable Senator Fraser moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Campbell:

That when the Senate adjourns today, it do stand adjourned until Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at 2 p.m.

After debate,

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

ADJOURNMENT

The Honourable Senator Martin moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Greene:

That the Senate do now adjourn.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

(Accordingly, at 3:25 p.m., the Senate was continued until Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at 2 p.m.)

DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 14-1(7)

Report of the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board on the administration of the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act for the period of November 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, pursuant to the Act, S.C. 2013, c. 40,s. 365 “42”.—Sessional Paper No. 1/42-186.

---

Changes in Membership of Committees Pursuant to Rule 12-5

Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament

The Honourable Senator Doyle replaced the Honourable Senator Tannas (February 25, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Ogilvie replaced the Honourable Senator Plett (February 25, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Jaffer replaced the Honourable Senator Cowan (February 25, 2016).

The Honourable Senator Plett replaced the Honourable Senator Ogilvie (February 24, 2016).